Vol 12 Chapter 1 (2/2)

I shared my view to concur with Ariella's opinion, but she instantly went red in the face

”M- about!? If Kili's like that, then aren't I also Th-That's so obscene”

Seeing Ariella totally flustered, I hastily waved my hands

”No, what Iobscene Ariella, haven't you ever chatted with others about whether someone looks like an S or an M?”

”Looks like? Oh, youserious”

”Serious?”

Puzzled, I asked Ariella iping sweat from her brow in relief, then she immediately went red and denied it

”Nothing, nothing at all! It's true that I've discussed this with Lisa and the others in detail! Firill even brought a book with a personality quiz”

”Eh, then which one came out as the analysis result for Kili?”

Interested, I tried asking but Ariella shook her head

”It happened before we met Kili”

”Then what about you, Ariella?”

”M”

Looking away from me, Ariella answered in a barely audible voice

”M-Mononobe-kun, let me be clear, it wasn't just me! Lisa and Mitsuki were M too! Also, that book itself was quite weird, its credibility—”

Ariella furiously explained herself with an intense blush, causing me to relax my expression

”—W-What are you laughing at!?”

”Sorry, but you're just so cute, Ariella”

I apologized with a wry s Ariella to hold her breath, frozen on the spot

”C C-C-C-Cute—Could you not say this sort of thing so suddenly”

Her voice became softer and softer while she lowered her head aardly

”Sorry”

I apologized again Since I said it unintentionally, Ariella's reaction caused me to blush instead

”Then who tested as S, Ariella?”

At this rate, the ed the subject

”Ah, well—It , but Iris was an S”

”That's definitely surprising But on further thought, Iris gave Kili a '-chan' honorific and co with her pace Perhaps, that's—”

I crossed ined Iris as a sadist

Picturing Iris holding a whip, laughing e

”—Totally unsuitable”

”Hmm?”

I s

”Don't worry about it Oh well, anyway, I'll remember your advice to be more assertive towards Kili”

”Y-Yeah, I hope you'll achieve it for sure Also, ued With you looking like that, I don't knohere to look anymore Oh, I'll keep watch over Mitsuki, so don't worry”

Saying that, Ariella pointed at me I looked down, only to see my yukata's collar wide open

”—Got it, I'll do that”

While fixing up my clothes, I nodded at Ariella

However, just as I was carrying a change of clothes into the bathrootone was suddenly heard in the room

”S-Sorry, that's mine—”

Ariella hastily took out her portable ter fro, Ren's sofa, and from my breast pocket—In any case, everyone's portable ter

”Mm?”

Ren rubbed her eyes drowsily and sat up

Before I pressed the button to pick up the call, the screen turned on autoard's chief administrator, Charlotte B Lord, appeared

”Meency situation has arisen”

The principal who looked like a young child was fidgeting with her blonde hair nervously, speaking in a somber voice

'Just now, a certain someone from NIFL—a na—that Loki Jotunheim has contacted us'

”Major Loki?”

Charlotte nodded gravely when I spoke his naes of everyone in the conversation were displayed on the monitors in the command center

'Indeed In any case, all of you need to look at this'

After she said that, the screen changed A towering black dome under a blue sky was shown on my terminal Since there were no objects in view for reference, I could not estiantic object

This was because it was completely unreflective and lacked three di a scenery, completely a deep abyss of darkness This re to devour Mitsuki and a chill ran through my body

”Several hours ago, this type of dome had appeared at four locations across the world With a diahly fifty kiloe and impossible to observe their interiors Hence, these spaces are currently called unknown territories”

”Unknown territories”

—Could this be related to the ”darkness” inside Mitsuki?

It was i

'Although many towns have been sed, no one has coed was only this'

Accoed to show a strange entity hovering next to a dome

It was gigantic heart covered by a spherical network of blood vessels This surreal scene made Ariella exclaim in a confused voice

”What is this”

'That was the ied Now, it has transformed to this'

Next, the screen changed to show a gigantic black ”creature” A pitch-black dragon ings outspread, hovering in the air—

”Isn't this Vritra? No, it's probably not—”

It was quite sion had created previously

However, Vritra was currently with us in the fore was far too huous

During class, I had seen io, but it should not have been this big

'H apparently has so to inform all of us'

As Charlotte spoke, an iht corner of the screen With Lisa and Vritra behind her, it was probably Tia's bedroom

'U to say'

Tia spoke solemnly, but Vritra went over her shoulder and leaned forward to interrupt

'Make no mistake, that is not I 'Tis the on stand-in of h I merely read the data provided by Kiskanu, this could very well be—'

'Stop! This is Tia's turn to speak! Don't get in Tia's way!'

Shoving away the interrupting Vritra, out of the screen, Tia spoke again

'Through the connection to the Akashi+c Record, Tia knohat it is It is froo The fifth calaevity” Bahamut'

”What”

—Not the ninth but the fifth?

The urgent and imminent calamity was the ninth while the fifth should be in the past It was a crisis that the world was supposed to have overcome

The unexpected words asp, but Charlotte did not seem surprised on the screen, only troubled

'How odd, this naned by NIFL Do they actually have information on the fifth calamity?'

Charlotte voiced her doubts but no one was able to give an answer

'Why NIFL knows about Baha is in itself very strange! Because Bahamut was clearly defeated by Basilisk, the holder of Code Fünf'

The confused Tia explained the abnormality of the situation

”By Basilisk? Then Iris, having inherited that authority—”Catastrophe”—would be able to take out that crazy huge dragon?”

Was it due to my whispered comment? Iris appeared on the botto until earlier since she was dressed in a fliee

'Eh!? M-Me?'

Iris pointed to her own face in panic However, Charlotte crossed her arrave expression

'—It would be too soon to assert that However, it is impossible to say for certain until we see the outcome of the attempt'

”Attempt? Then—”

When I spoke out, Charlotte nodded

'Yes, NIFL has requested our cooperation While Baha at the sa from the sidelines Furthermore'

She paused for a h she had dispelled her hesitation

'Baha the Principality of Erlia, the homeland of one of our Ds, Firill Crest If Bahahwalker's holand would not be spared'

This inforht alarh not shown on the screen, Firill was probably starting to worry too

'In order to protect the homelands for these maidens, the Ds, to return to, I have accepted NIFL's request as Midgard's top co the links between this and the ninth calamity reported earlier, as well as ”Catastrophe,” you are the only ones capable of taking on this erous battlefield again I hope all of you will aid in this endeavor'

”Of course—Then what exactly do we have to do?”

I replied instantly and asked Charlotte for our mission In the same room as me, Ariella and Ren also nodded without hesitation

'Thank you,maidens You will join NIFL's defense line to intercept Bahaether However There is a serious problem here'

Charlotte thanked us but for sorim

”Problem?”

'We have no inally, we could meet up with NIFL by shi+p transport on the sea, which would then allow you to head to the scene by plane or helicopter However, there is not a single NIFL shi+p in Midgard's surroundings at the moment It was my demand after the battle that NIFL withdraw its forces coht it would come to bite us in return'

Charlotte sighed with her hand against her forehead However, I asked:

”All we need to do is fly to where NIFL is, right? That'll greatly shorten the time until rendezvous”

'The NIFL force sent to pick you up is extre transreatly before the battle However Perhaps we have no other options'

Charlotte was very troubled, but Tia raised her hand vigorously from the smallon the screen

'Wait! In that case, Tia has a better idea!'

”Tia?”

I responded in surprise and Tia brought her fist to her chest and said seriously

'Well, Tia thinks that we just need to coether!'

”Complete Marduk, what do you mean—”

Unable to understand Tia's words, I was baffled

Marduk was a weapon system used by Atlantis, the ancestors of ons such as Leviathan and Hraesvelgr, I had used transmuted dark matter to recreate parts of Marduk

It was true that every weapon of Marduk was very powerful, but currently, the proble up with NIFL I could not see how these two matters were connected

However, Tia continued to speak to Charlotte

'Principal, please Order all Ds to asseht now'

'Sure, I can do that, but'

Charlotte seemed worried but still nodded

'Okay, let's all go to the harbor!'

Having obtained per in detail On the screen with one less shed

'It fillsmaidens when the sun has yet to rise—But there is no other way Let us listen to her explanation at the harbor'

Then the portable terminal's screen went dark and my room returned to peace and quiet

”Nii-san, stop standing there, spacing out Hurry and get changed Ariella-san and Ren-san, please get prepared to set off”

Surprised by the voice that broke the silence, I turned to face the bed

Had she woken up withouther portable ter at me

”Mitsuki”

I called out her name hoarsely

”You woke up Are you fine now?”

”Mm, do you feel unwell anywhere?”

Ariella and Ren also noticed and asked Mitsuki orry

”Yes—I am fine I am fully informed too I shall make a trip to my room first”

Saying that, Mitsuki got off the bed Likeher yukata She was probably planning to change into her uniform in her room

”Wait, even if you're fine right now, Mitsuki, it's best you avoid being alone”

I frantically tried to stop Mitsuki asher way to the door

”Yes, good point Because of the ninth calaht? When I woke up previously, Firill-san already toldshi+fts to watch over me In that case Ariella-san and Ren-san should come with me, so no need to worry, Nii-san”

Pausing in her steps, Mitsuki spoke in an exceedingly calm voice

This was probably the cal the pain that was tearing her heart apart

”But—”

”Nii-san, are you actually trying to watch e? If you say yes, you will have to write a repentance essay, you know?”

S weakly, Mitsuki cautioned me

”Understood Okay, Ariella and Ren, I' Mitsuki in your hands”

Despite my hesitation, I nodded and entrusted Mitsuki to them

”Got it I'll contact you straight away if anything happens No need to worry”

”Mm, don't worry”

Next, Mitsuki left my room, accompanied by Ariella and Ren

I knew I ought to say so However, what exactly was it? No matter how I racked my brain, I did not know

Part 4

At the break of dawn, Midgard's entire student body was gathered at the harbor Unsure of the situation, the girls were showing apprehensive expressions towards the tense atmosphere around them

Currently, there were no shi+ps e sun was e off the clouds in the sky

Prepared to sortie, we ether with Charlotte and shi+no on the pier some distance from the other students

”So—Marduk is actually a giant shi+p!”

Tia spread her slender arreat size

”A shi+p Speaking of which, back e first saw NIFL's battleshi+p, Tia-san did mention before that it felt similar to Marduk somehow”

Hearing Lisa whispering with a hand to the corner of her mouth, I remembered too

It was during the final moments of NIFL's invasion—e had clearly defeated Major Loki—the NIFL battleshi+p moored at sea had switched to attack mode

'That shi+p Somehow, it feels similar'

Tia had said so at the time When we asked for an explanation, she had continued

'A weapon from Atlantis Marduk'

Furthermore, Tia had warned that the ht be Babel, a weapon from a lost civilization

In fact, the main cannon's firepoas exceptional—While Ariella deployed a barrier, Tia hacked the shi+p, thus enabling us to survive the crisis

However, it was still unknohy NIFL possessed such a battleshi+p DuringAtlantean weapons data to ical developal and Gáe Bolg However, back then, I did not have data on Babel

The anti-dragon weapons created through the transmutation of dark matter would self-destruct after use, so it would be impossible to obtain data from them

After the battle, I wanted to inquire about this if there had been a chance to talk to Major Loki But since no such chance came up, it remained an unanswered question in the end

”Tia—I know that the anti-dragon ar drasil, I sensed it”

Seeking to defeat the Leviathan that was trying to turn Iris into its drasil transmitted the data of Marduk's main cannon to me Back then, I found out that Marduk was a weapon armed with various modes of attack

Afterwards, Marduk's data was supplemented by two additional downloads, but still incomplete

”—In other words, Marduk's complete form is similar to NIFL's battleshi+p?”

I recalled the various Atlantean weapons I had made so far and asked Tia

Main cannon—”Babel”

Special artillery—”Meggido”

Psionic multi-barreled cannon—”Noah”

Hyperspace reversion rocket-assisted artillery—”Abyss”

I still could not iine Marduk's complete form, equipped with all these weapons

”More a that that, it's a shi+p that can fly into space”

”S-space?”

The sudden word shocked me, but Tia's face was serious

”Indeed The counterweapon ardless of any environon,' Marduk”

”Deus Dragon the second calamity's trump card”

Kili whispered with interest

The Atlanteans were the ancestors of y Arriving at Earth froarded by Gaia as a threat to the planet—as the second dragon, ”Ultion” was probably a term to express the true nature of this threat

”Yes, which is why it should be able to fly over to Bahareat a everyone's help is enough”

Seeing all the students gathered at the harbor, Tia said orry

”—Release these bonds of mine and no such problem would exist”

Vritra interrupted next Indeed, in her case, she should be able to generate dark matter on a level far beyond us But currently, she was unable to perform transmutation due to the vine choker Tia had made

”Right! Let's have Vritra-chan help out too!”

Iris' face brightened up but Ariella shook her head with a reluctant expression

”Let's not We don't knohat Vritra'd do with full ability to generate dark ht end up as eneed”

Ren and Firill agreed with her

”M of a risk”

”I agree We don't know if our dark matter is really insufficient either”

Vritra shrugged in response

”Presently, I side my comrade Neun—Fine, 'tis futile to demand ye to trust me”

Despite speaking as though she had not placed any hopes in the first place, Vritra acted a little like she was sulking I patted her on the head

”Thanks for offering to help When we're really out of options, we'll borrow your power”

”Hht not miss your chance 'Twould be too late if ye dally”

Vritra turned her face away, speaking with slight displeasure

”Yeah, I got it Then we'll start constructing Marduk”

I nodded and looked at everyone

”I can only watch this time Zwei—please help Papa in my place”

Not a D, Jeanne gritted her teeth and patted shi+on on the arm

”i Got iT Papa, i'LL hElp yOu”

shi+on nodded firmly and walked over to hold my hand

”—Thanks”

I gripped shi+on's hand in return then looked my silent little sister—Mitsuki

”Mitsuki, umm”

Unable toat her chest

”Rest assured, I shall assist in constructing Marduk too Also, I have notas well Given how I must not leave your side currently, Nii-san, I have no other choice”

Just as I was struggling to find words, Mitsuki gave her reply first

”Mitsuki”

Indeed, after waking up, Mitsuki had neither said she was unwell nor did she cause any commotion

However, she was definitely not herself

She was forcing herself She was putting on a brave face Even without looking at her face, without listening to her voice, I could tell instantly

However, I did not point this out to deprive her of the ”fortitude” she had been desperately trying to maintain

”Got it Then I' on you too, Mitsuki”

I nodded decisively and Mitsuki answered ”yes” in relief Next, she instantly tensed her expression and turned to the noisy students

”Please listen to me, everyone”

All the noise instantly vanished as soon as Mituski spoke as the student council president and captain of the Dragon Subjugation Squad

Although there were girls watching her orried gazes, there was definite trust in Mitsuki conveyed through their eyes

”Currently, catastrophic changes have occurred all over the world Our hoiant creature known as Baha the affected areas Brynhildr Class will be heading out to defeat this creature”

Mitsuki was facing the students and her back vieas filled with intense vigor as always However, this vigor was probably squeezed out through her desperate efforts

”The reard as best as you can Furthermore, I have a request to make of all of you In order to construct the shi+p necessary for hastening to the battlefield, we need a huge quantity of darkto lend us your aid, could you kindly hold hands with people beside you to form a circle?”

Despite the sudden request, the students began to hold hands with one another without questioning

All the hesitation on everyone's face disappeared This was proof that each student believed that Mitsuki was pointing out the correct path

Seeing this, shi+nomiya-sensei asked Charlotte

”Principal, how is the condition of Midgardsormr?”

”Mica is on standby in the coive the order, the naval route will be secured You will be able to set off immediately once the shi+p is built If possible, I would like to accoreement with the United Nations to remain on this island Furtherainst humans, I am no help to my friend”

Holding a portable terminal, Charlotte answered then looked at me

”You must return safe and sound This is my only request for you all”

”Yeah, it's a promise”

While ere talking, the students had already formed a circle

”Then everyone, let us join in too”

Mitsuki urged us and I entered the circle, holding shi+on by the hand

”Tia will trans data to Yuu, so this position is essential”

Saying that, Tia took my other hand, opposite to shi+on

”Do your best, Mononobe”

Next to Tia, Iris encouraged me

”Nii-san, please give the signal once you are ready After that, ill start trans dark matter to you”

Mitsuki spoke to me from next to shi+on

I nodded at them then took a deep breath

Jeanne, Vritra, Charlotte, and shi+nohtly further away

”So, Tia—Send me Marduk's data”

”Yes, got it”

Tia's little hand began to tighten her grip while electricity sparked in the vicinity of the small red horns on her head

In that instant, a nu sensationA flash of light filledfeeling, I closed my eyes

Like torrent, the surging inforether into several lines The lines slowly ca it to coantic outline

—This was Marduk

I could not help but shudder all over

Possessing the power to defeat hostile species for the Atlanteans on multiple occasions, its existence filled me with fear

In order to project the forhtly shut eyes

What appeared beforethe splashi+ng waves on the water surface, I gave the order

”Lend th, everyone!”

”Please concentrate dark matter in Nii-san, everyone!”

Mitsuki instantly shouted to all the students

Instantly, a flood of dark antic black sphere before my eyes

Dark s were floodingmyself

Nor transmutation in such a state would be impossible, but there was no need for me to impose control over these emotions—this dark matter

All I needed to do was pour the blueprints inform to the dark matter

”Deus Dragon—Marduk!”

I conferred a nahtful path for the matter that held endless possibility

”Anti-dragon armament, Full Revive!!”

The pitch-black radually increased in density and started turning froas into a solid

”Still not enough Everyone, please muster more!”

I perfor out

If the dark matter was insufficient, then an inco parts would beantic explosion

”Mmmmmm!”

The one with the greatest generating capacity, Ren, desperately squeezed out her final strength

Gritting their teeth, everyone else transmitted dark matter to me

The rew dense all at once

It was here—

Feeling a concrete sensation, I accelerated the rate of trans the majestic appearance of the Atlantean weapon on the sea

Solidified from mist, the entity shone with hard silver luster Accoantic battleshi+p appeared

The surging waves hit the breakwater, producing a splash of white spray However, no one dodged

Everyone was fixated on the object that had appeared before them

Only told that they were going to build a shi+p, the students could not hide their surprise at all Even having seen the construction of anti-dragon weapons up close before, Iris and the girls could only gasp, rooted to the spot

”—What an a shi+p”

Charlotte's exclamation reached my ear

shi+p, battleshi+p—Sure enough, such descriptions were probably the closest

Roughly two hundred th, the shi+p's body was covered with silver-white areohtening and di in periodic cycles

Protruding sharply in the front, the proas ed with the main cannon of Babel Split into two, its barrel featured a lens in theradiance

Weapons were concentrated on the front of the shi+p's surface Megiddo's giant barrel was installed at two locations, a total of eight of Noah'ssky, they looked especially impressive

Behind the bridge were the missile pods of Abyss On the two sides of the shi+p were variable-sings, gravitational control devices used for flight

In addition to the data stored inrasp of the entire shi+p's capabilities

Just as the anti-dragon weapons created through transmutation previously were always linked to my consciousness, this shi+p was synchronized with me

”So this is Marduk”

While confounded by my suddenly expanded senses, I looked up at the Atlantean weapon that had materialized

This was a power that did not belong to this era Once used, it would surely becoons

But right now, to oppose an even greater calamity, I must control this power—

”—”

After warningme to frown

Sure enough, being connected to such amy